The Trent Richardson file

Ht./wt./40 time: 5-9, 228, 4.48

Rating: No. 4 overall prospect by nfldraftscout.com

Comments: Best running back in draft class -- by plenty. Considered by many to be best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson. Should be able to step in Day 1 and contribute at a high level. Combination of power and speed makes him effective inside and outside the tackles. Laterally and vertically explosive. Takes care of ball. Low center of gravity helps him bounce off would-be tacklers and deliver hits. Finds another gear when he turns the corner. Catches passes and picks up blitzers. Instinctive movements in and
out of the hole. Play with an attitude. Marketable. Did not run at combine because of knee scope, but he did run at his pro day in late March and was outstanding. Clocked between 4.46 and 4.52 during March 29 special workout, for which he weighed 227. Played at elite program under former NFL coach Nick Saban. Won't be 21 until July. Fills a huge need on the Browns given the free-agent departure of Peyton Hillis and injury questions surrounding Montario Hardesty.

BEREA, Ohio -- It's a new era in Cleveland Browns football, and it promises to be a wild and thrilling ride.

The Browns traded up a spot with the Vikings at No. 3 to select the best running back in the draft in Alabama running back Trent Richardson, and then came back with the No. 22 and made just as big a splash by taking Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, the outstanding athlete who spent five years pitching in the minor leagues before college.

Together, Richardson and Weeden have a chance to completely transform the Browns' sluggish offense, one that averaged only 13.6 points per game last season.

"When we don't hand it to Trent, we'll have Brandon throw it in there," said head coach Pat Shurmur. "He's displayed the ability to get his team in the end zone and win games. We all know the importance of the quarterback position and we're addressing it to the point that we have a guy that we think is our guy as we move forward."

General Manager Tom Heckert acknowledged that Weeden was drafted to be the starting quarterback. He said the team would discuss whether or not to trade Colt McCoy Thursday night and Friday.

"Eventually [Weeden's] going to be a starter for us," said Heckert. "That's what we draft him for."

Added Shurmur: "We think he's going to project into being an outstanding NFL quarterback and we were able to see that in the way he competed in college. We felt he was going to make us and the position better."

As for Richardson, the Browns were so determined to land him that they surrendered precious picks -- a fourth-, fifth- and a seventh-rounder -- to trade up a spot with the Vikings. Heckert said his friend Rick Spielman, the Vikings GM, told him the competing offer he had for Richardson "and I beat it. We were pretty fired up. Trent was the guy we really wanted and I'm glad it worked out. He can run, catch and block. He's a tough, tough kid."

Shurmur said one of the things that sold on Richardson was his ability to overcome adversity. Richardson had surgery on both of his ankles in college and was told by doctors he might never run again. He also had the first of his two daughters in high school, and his mother has battled cancer.

"He's faced adversity and worked his way through it and excelled," said Shurmur. "It helps me like him more."

Richardson, who embraced his daughters at Radio City Music Hall, was so overjoyed during his conference call that he sounded near tears.

"Oh my God, I can't explain it to you," he said. "It's bigger than winning my national championship [in January over LSU]. It's incredible, man. I'm on Cloud Nine right now. I'm high on life right now, man."

He said the fact the Browns traded three picks to get him tells him "that I'm their guy and they want me. And I better do something to help them win. There's a lot of pressure on me. But I don't call it pressure. I call it opportunity."

He said Hall of Famer Jim Brown calling him "ordinary" on a radio show didn't hurt him.

The Brandon Weeden file

Ht./wt./40 time: 6-4, 221, 4.92

Comments: Rocket arm with quick release. Ball shoots out of hand, the product of smooth mechanics. Can make all the NFL throws, especially those on West Coast route tree, with accuracy. Teamed with Justin Blackmon to form one of college football's most lethal QB/WR duos in recent memory. Former second-round pick of New York Yankees. Spent years in minors; age (turns 29 in October) prevented him from being top-10 pick. High football IQ. More athletic than he appears.

"I'm going to try to prove him wrong," said Richardson. "I'm an ordinary human, but as a back, I'm going to be that special guy."

Shurmur said he received a glowing report on Richardson from Alabama head coach Nick Saban, whom he worked under at Michigan State. Richardson, who rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, was picked higher than any other Browns back. Brown was picked No. 6.

"He's passionate, he's productive, he's durable, and he's the kind of runner that we feel is going to help us put an offense together to win the games that we're going to win," said Shurmur. "He's going to be one of those players that our fans and our community will be able to watch run the ball for a lot of years."

Weeden told The Plain Dealer last week he had a feeling the Browns were going to draft him.

"The night went the way I hoped," he said. "When I got that phone call, it was special. It was one of the best moments of my life. I'm extremely excited about it."

He said he's looking forward to competing with McCoy for the starting job.

"That's just my nature," he said. "I'm going to give it all I have to be the best player I can be."

Weeden spent the day running some errands, trying to get his mind off the draft. The third-best quarterback in this draft, Weeden was projected by some to go in the second round, but Heckert said the Browns had to pounce because some teams behind them were prepared to do the same.

"I was standing by the phone when Mr. Heckert called and I got the phone call of a lifetime," he said.

The selection of Weeden takes some of the sting out of the Browns losing out to Washington on the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes. He went 23-3 in his two seasons at Oklahoma State and capped off his career with a thrilling overtime victory over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl.

Weeden, operating in a spread offense, threw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his past two seasons with a total of 71 touchdowns. His favorite target was Justin Blackmon, whom the Browns also considered drafting.

"We relied on throwing the football," said Weeden. "I think that's what they saw, a guy that can make all of the throws. The NFL is such a throwing league. Fortunately that's my strength. I'm going to do everything I can to learn the system."

Weeden said he'll have no problem learning the West Coast offense that the Browns run.

"I was around it a little bit at the Senior Bowl [with Redskins coach Mike Shanahan]," he said. "I'm looking forward to learning it and getting the ball rolling."

He also said his age won't be a problem. "My body is fresh," he said. "I didn't get hit for five years while I was playing baseball."

He said when the Browns picked Richardson, he was hoping he was up next. Now, it's their team, their time.

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